Posts Tagged ‘burning man’

I want to share with the three people who read my blog this email I sent back in February to the core team of burn2. I left on my own accord and was not forced out made to leave or fired. I still believe in burn2 and I also believe this event is one of the last great ones in second life.

Greetings team,
I am writing this email after a few months of reflection and soul searching. My life has changed both in sl and rl. I am no longer able to commit to things like I use to be able to. And that’s not fair to the event, volunteers, or to any of you. between my fathers health issues and my personal life and work commitments ever changing.

There fore when the time Diana’s world calms and she is able to once again commit to burn, I will be resigning as the co-lead of DPW.

Diana has shown countless times her deep commitment to the event and the community filling in where needed without question. She has always strived to better the event and make it grow into what it has become and what it will be in the future. You should all trust her decision making skills and let her grow as much as possible she will not let you down I’m sure.

This will wait till after the April fools event and occuplaya have ended. As i have committed to be a part in those events. Unless Diana requests I leave sooner. I know her personal life is in flux currently so to alivate any tensions or commitments she currently has and to proceed in a transitional phase. I plan on being retired by the beginning of may.

It has been a very hard and personal choice to come to. I plan on serving still in a emeritus role for DPW and will still be available to anyone who has questions or is in need of my help in any way. But the time has come for me to move along.
As a personal request I ask that you please keep this email as confidential information till may. But I felt it was best to inform you all now of my future plans. I’m not leaving second life just going to explore other things beyond burn2 on the grid.

Funny how life changes and things we loved to do grow faded. I have nothing but respect for you all. And nothing but well wishes to you, the community and the event.

All creations I’m still holding that can be transferred will be gifted to m2 burner and to Diana for usage as the core, dpw, and Diana deem fit.

Respectfully,

Kev Sweetwater

And so in case you didn’t know I’m no longer a member of burn2 as a departmental leader any more. I wish them nothing but great things and long prosperity in all endeavors and to Diana I say you can do it better than me I know you can make that event come to greater heights than I ever could have.

A few more than 24 hours remain till the official opening of burn2 in second life. I wanted to take a moment and give some information on how to best enjoy the burn and the playa.

– if your a long time resident of second life you know prims, flexible prims, sculpties, and scripts cause lag. Take off that hair, toss the boots, wear simple clothes and remove those Huds and animation overrides (ao’s) it will help

– talk to people all people be nice and friendly ask questions and make friends.

– explore let the playa guide you wander the roads see the sights take photos and enjoy it

– visit the schwag tent for all kinds of free gifts from the burners

– thank a volunteer some spent weeks, months and a entire year on making this happen. They deserve a thank you.

– be open and free express yourself, become a participant, burn2 isn’t a visitor event it’s a participant event we all make it what it is in our own way.

In the end before you leave stop an look around you and know your a part of the community and this is your event.

Wandering the virtual playa at burn2 this year I’ve seen many great things growing and becoming part of Black rock city’s virtual twin. I’ve seen art cars and builders and people sitting under shade structures, and I’ve also seen new residents of second life discover their soul on the playa.
I met a new resident who is less than a month old who has grand visions of creation and a need to develop a story they want to tell the world.
I’ve been creating content in second life since 2008 as kev sweetwater building some unique and stunning builds and also some never to see the light of day. I am always taken back when someone compliments my creations because in my mind they are just basic but they continue to say things like they are soul shaking and emotion bringing and all have a piece of you in them.
And some do some have hundreds of hours in them some have 15 minutes in them. But to me they are not always what I feel they should be. I am not on the level of some of second life’s great artists and creators, but they are mine and for that I’m happy to have made them.
So I spoke with this new resident and took them on a tour of a few art builds and could see their desire to create content like that. And in a way I think they might have a chance with it but I also fear the influence of them on new content creators trying to replicate what they have viewed, making it a copy and not something that is part of them.
My first build in second life was a child’s castle basic simple small but cute I sold three over time and never really remembered why I was proud of those prims I slapped together but in a way I am.
As I continued to wander the playa I noticed statements and creations in some builds and in some I saw sterility in their creation. All are beautiful and unique but not soul touching. Then I came across a few campers just having a conversation about nothing important an hear the words ” how can we compete with all this great art around here” so I knew I had to stop and say a few words.
To them I stated art is what makes the creator happy it can be the ceiling of the Sistine chapel or the graffiti behind the local Gas station to the maker it’s a form of art both totally different meanings but both thought invoking. If we all made the same art then it wouldn’t be art it would be cookie cutter creations.
They all got very quiet then one stated so when you create things like we see here all over what inspires you to make them. I said some are ment to have functions like center camp no it’s not a exact replica of the real camp yes it fits the form but it’s my inner souls ideas of what it should be. Another person said then explain why you choose a random creation for the Tokyo stage I said to me it is about inner conflict and tensions I feel in life the chains holding me down the fire trying to melt through them and the stage lifting higher every day because the fire in my soul is sitting below it encased in chains but breaking past them to lift it up.
I said create what moves you and then explain why and you will be ok, or don’t let the viewer try to find meaning in it for themselves.
I look forward to seeing their creations and the new residents camp site she has been focused on for days now finished to a point of inner peace.
We all are individuals in art and life and community we are what makes it all work in harmony create something that pleases you and let the world see it.

As dpw lead for burning man 2.0 a official virtual regional. We have all the stuff at black rock city except the dust unless your house is dirty

This week was a long one but with a great team it was wonderful no fighting only happy and fun we got all the regions set up chose theme camp winners assigned all donation plots to people built center camp got the Berlin stage going up camp articia out for your ice needs. But the best part so far is this amazing team of people who will do anything the lamplighters lead jeanbatista has helped me so much this week I am forever gratefull to him. Emcee has been the calming voice an they one to say bro I live you but your not a one man department delegate more before you die. Ronon is training new and old rangers as fast as possible, Doc G tossed a last minute pre party for everyone as a thanks for waiting party. My ops lead rekka has been smashing prims and making things from nothing. Ahh there are so many great people involved and it’s worth every second.
The man is ready to go in our temple builder has made a temple to make you feel a rush of emotion it’s like being on the playa.
So now it’s time to open the flood gate and let the builders in let’s get to work now this ride is one people dream of. Thank you all for your support and help and a shoulder to lean on at times this is what makes burning man in second life great now where is the bacon